2 Corinthians 1:1-13

Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,^(A) and Timothy^(B) our^[a] brother:

To the church of God at Corinth,^(C) with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.^(D)

² Grace to you and peace^(E) from God our Father^(F) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of Comfort

³ Blessed be^(G) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies^(H) and the God of all comfort.^{(I) 4} He comforts us in all our affliction,^[b] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings^(J) of Christ^(K) overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.^{(L) 6} If we are afflicted,^(M) it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.^{(N) 7} And our hope^(O) for you is firm, because we know that as you share^(P) in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.

⁸ We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia.^(Q) We were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength^(R)—so that we even despaired^(S) of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God^(T) who raises^(U) the dead. ¹⁰ He has delivered^(V) us from such a terrible death,^(W) and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again ¹¹ while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our^[c] behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

A Clear Conscience

¹² Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony^(X) of our conscience^(Y) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom^(Z) but by God’s grace.^{(AA) 13} For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely—